When we first brought you the Victory Core concept, we didn't have much time to bring you any analysis. We actually published the article from the show floor at the Javits Center during the press conference using a CD of images that we had to lie to obtain; it was only made available to print media. While we're much bigger fans of the Core than we are of the NY show's other headliner, the Honda Fury, we still have serious issues with Victory's "performance cruiser of the future.">

Victory describes the Core thusly, "Core is a concept motorcycledesigned and built by the Victory Motorcycles Industrial Design team toshow what a performance cruiser of the future could look like. Itconsists of only the essentials: engine, frame, wheels and frontsuspension -- no rear suspension. Its unique cast aluminum frame wasmade by pouring molten aluminum into a sand core, which was removedwhen the casting was complete."

In these videos, Victory's staff boasts of the originality, innovationand purity achieved by the Core. Let's look at each of those claims andsee how they stack up to reality.

Victory: "There's nothing like it out there."

HFL: The Core is striking similar to the Confederate Hellcat both inprofile and detail. The aggressive, streetfighter-like face achieved bythe lack of a protruding headlight? Hellcat. Formed split wooden seat's actual shape? Hellcat. The heavilycurved profile that makes the v-twin look muscular? Hellcat. Thecurrent iteration of the Hellcat was designed in 2002.

Victory: "The cool thing about bobbers is if it doesn't make the bikego, if it doesn't make the bike stop, then it doesn't belong on thebike."

HFL: What's the big fake radiator thing bolted to the front of the engine?

Victory: "Performance Cruiser"

HFL: Our dictionary defines "performance" as: "A vehicle's capacity togain speed rapidly and move efficiently and safely at high speed."While we're fans of big, air-cooled twins, the lack of rear suspensionmeans that the Core will be unable to translate its 97bhp and 113lb/ftof torque into actual acceleration. That lack of rear suspension alsodrastically compromises its ability to move efficiently and, inparticular, safely at any speed, much less high ones. We're relieved tosee the Core shun the trend for overly wide rear tires, but we'reafraid it won't be able to exploit the quick steering that wouldotherwise result from that rear tire's 150/70 profile.

HFL: Emphasis on the "-looking" Those big brake discs and radialBrembos? They're not going to be able to work as intended with thismuch rake and the lack of rear suspension.

Victory: "Its unique cast aluminum frame was made by pouring molten aluminum into a sand core, which was removed when the casting was complete."

HFL: We have three significant issues with the frame.

First, we made our first sand cast aluminum parts in seventh-grade shop class; this is not a new technique.

Second, making those parts taught us that sand cast aluminum is a biton the brittle side. A sand cast, hollow, brittle material does notsound like an excellent material from which to make a steering head.Nor is that material used sympathetically in the frame. An air-cooledengine's heads will expand with heat, this not only means that theirposition will shift relative to the sump, but also that there's asignificant amount of flex between the two. Using the extremeperipherals of an engine that will flex and expand as stressed membersin a brittle frame is inherently flawed.

Third, this frame is rightly given design emphasis on the overallproduct, the name "Core" refers to the frame. So why camouflage it withtacky decals? Given this emphasis the design of the frame should bebold and attractive enough to stand on its own.

Victory: "Performance cruiser of the future."

HFL: Where are the new ideas? The suspension, powertrain, frame andstyling are utterly conventional, if not overly retro. Are we missingsomething?